Talcum Powder and Cancer: What is the Connection?

Talcum powder is made primarily from the mineral talc and is most often used in feminine washes, cosmetics, body powders, facial powders and other consumer products. Talcum powder helps to absorb moisture released from the body and is often used to help prevent fabric from chafing against the skin. However, several products that contain this mineral may point to a potential relationship between talcum powder and cancer.

Contact Attorney Group for Arkansas today if you or a loved one developed ovarian cancer and you belive talcum powder was the cause. We can provide you with a free case evaluation and connect you with an affiliated attorney in Arkansas who can help you to pursue a claim. You may be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries.

Alleged Connection between Talcum Powder and Cancer

Although talc may contain asbestos, a known cancer-causing substance, consumer products containing talc have been free of asbestos since the 1970s. However, recent research suggests that asbestos-free, modern talc products may increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer if she chooses to use the product in the genital area.

According to studies, talc does not break down in the body, and it can travel through a woman’s vagina, into her uterus, up her Fallopian tubes and into her ovaries, causing pain, irritation and cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies the use of talc-based body powders on the genitals as “carcinogenic to humans.”

Products that are most often used in the general area that can contain talc include:

Vaginal deodorants

Tampons

Sanitary napkins

Feminine washes

Diaphragms

Condoms

Body powders

Baby powder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly received multiple petitions from various organizations requesting that the agency regulate talc, yet each request has been denied. The Cancer Prevention Coalition petitioned the FDA in 1994 to issue a warning on the perineal use of talcum powder due to the risk of ovarian cancer, and the CPC again led a larger coalition of groups in 2008 to request that a talcum powder and ovarian cancer warning be included on all talcum-containing products.

Talcum Powder and Cancer Lawsuits Filed

In October 2013, the first talcum powder and cancer lawsuit was tried in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A federal jury determined that a woman’s use of products containing talcum that were marketed by Johnson & Johnson caused her to develop ovarian cancer. Attorneys in Arkansas who are currently investigating claims on behalf of patients filing similar lawsuits maintain that Johnson & Johnson should warn consumers of the potential link between talcum powder and cancer, particularly in products used for feminine hygiene.

Johnson & Johnson, however, felt as though its products were indeed safe, after reviewing studies that allegedly demonstrated a weak link between talcum powder and cancer. According to the manufacturer, research has never strongly determined that talcum powder and cancer went hand-in-hand, so it decided not to place a warning label on its products.

Plaintiffs who may consider working with an attorney in Arkansas to pursue a talcum powder and cancer claim may be eligible to recover damages for their injuries. According to experts, a failure to warn women of the risk of developing ovarian cancer due to talcum powder use has led to an estimated 10,000 cases of the condition in the U.S. each year.

Injured? Contact an Attorney in Arkansas Today

Attorney Group for Arkansas can help if you or a family member developed ovarian cancer due to a consumer product. We can provide you with a free case evaluation to help you determine if you have a claim. We can connect you with an affiliated attorney in Arkansas who can help you to file your lawsuit and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.

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